Cal Murphy is a singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his unique brand of acoustic folk-punk. His songs tell stories, striking a balance between everyday life, political commentary, and comedy and satire.
Born and raised in Greater Manchester, he began playing music in the Manchester punk scene, playing in punk and hard rock bands.
Cal later began to embrace his Irish roots, drawing influence from the likes of Liam Clancy, The Dubliners and The Pogues. During his time living in Barcelona, he was a founding member and principal songwriter of folk band Seven Drunken Knights, serving as lead vocalist and guitarist, bringing some of the speed and urgency of his rock background to create an energetic brand of Celtic folk.
Murphy also began playing solo, writing and performing a mixture of serious songs and comedic or satirical songs. His frequent performances and popularity at open mic nights led to regular gigs and appearances at comedy nights.
He recorded his first album – So This Is Life – in 2018, featuring the songs “Holes”, “Little Fat Kid”, and “Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time”.
In 2023, Cal recorded and released his second solo album – One More Glass of Whiskey. This collection of songs includes “Punk’s Not Dead, It Just Got Old”, “Rope”, and the title track.
You can find Cal’s back catalogue on BandCamp and streaming platforms (including Spotify), as well as his various videos on Youtube.
06/11/25 marks his 2nd show at the Grayston Unity and it promises to be a good ‘un…
drop a tip in the hat!
